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Behind the Scenes: A Day in the Life of House Cleaners Near Me

Whether you are looking to become a housekeeper, or would like to hire one from a house cleaning company, there is a lot to know about house cleaners and what it means to be one. For both parties, having a better understanding of the daily routine, challenges, and other aspects of the job description will help formulate stronger, long-lasting bonds between the two.

The more you know about the life of house cleaners near you, the more insight you will have on what it really takes to be the best housekeeper around. It’s not an easy job but it sure is rewarding when the end result is a satisfactory one for both house owners and house cleaners.

Daily House Cleaning Services by a Professional House Cleaner

If you run an online search for “house cleaners near me”, the results will leave you spoiled for choice in terms of the sheer number of house cleaning services available in your local area. It is your responsibility, however, to determine which of these qualify as the best house cleaning services, and filter out the ones that can’t be trusted. A good rule of thumb is to only consider a house cleaning company with a cleaning crew that is background checked, recommended, and bonded and insured.

When you finally pick a house cleaning service, and agree upon the house cleaning cost, all that’s left is for you to finalize the booking. Thereafter, it’s time for the house cleaner to spring into action!

The Everyday Routines of House Cleaners

When you hire a cleaning service for your apartment or home, the cleaning company will assign the job to a suitable cleaner, providing them with details of the service, and additional instructions, if any.

It is the house cleaner’s responsibility to be punctual, presentable, and carry out the daily cleaning tasks requested by the house owner which may include add-on tasks for an extra charge.

Here is a brief look at the daily, room-by-room home cleaning routine that a house maid typically performs. Bear in mind that standard house cleaning services vary from one cleaning company to another with some even offering customized daily home cleaning packages.

Living Room Cleaning

The living room can get pretty dusty and disorganized due to the amount of activity the room is subject to. Therefore, it might be due a deep clean before you hire a standard or regular clean from one of the house cleaning services in your area. Nevertheless, regular cleaning and tidying is necessary, and typically includes the following when you hire a housekeeper:

Dusting the furniture, shelves, and other surfaces in the room. Cleaners always start dusting surfaces that are higher up so that any dust particles or debris that get knocked off can be cleaned up once and for all from lower pieces of furniture.
Depending on the cleaning checklist followed by the house cleaning service, your house cleaner will wipe or wash the interior windows in your living room.
Sofas and couches will be straightened out and made up nicely. Vacuuming of upholstery may also be offered.
Items on the coffee table and end tables will be organized neatly.
Vacuuming of carpets or area rugs (some house cleaning services offer steam cleaning if the carpet requires a deep clean).
Sweeping/vacuuming and mopping the floors.

Kitchen Cleaning

Daily usage of a kitchen means spills, splatters, grease, and grime are inevitable. This generally requires a little more time and elbow grease in order to get the space cleaned up well. Here’s what’s expected of a house cleaner when cleaning the kitchen daily:

Remove grease and stains from the stove top and range hood.
Wipe down the backsplash.
Clean the exteriors of kitchen appliances like the toaster, kettle, coffee maker, oven, etc.
Wipe down the fridge door and disinfect the handle.
Clean the microwave interior and exterior.
Wipe down all counters, tables, and shelves.
Clean the kitchen sink and surrounding area.
Wipe down stainless steel surfaces.
Load dirty dishes into the dishwasher.
Clean the floor (sweeping + regular or steam mopping floors).

Bathroom Cleaning

When cleaned on a daily basis, bathrooms are quick and easy to maintain. Of course, deep cleaning once every other month is important to eliminate hidden germs and built-up grime in nooks and crannies. For bathroom cleaning on a daily basis, house cleaners generally follow the process below:

Clear out shower items and countertop accessories to properly wipe down surfaces.
Scrub and wash wall tiles.
Clean the sink.
Scrub the toilet bowl clean inside and outside.
Clean bathtub surfaces.
Wipe down bathroom fittings, faucets, etc.
Clean the mirror and bathroom vanity.
Wash and dry the floor tiles.

Bedroom Cleaning

While it’s important for a housekeeper to remain professional and respectful with every step of their daily cleaning routine, when it comes to cleaning the bedroom, they must display a little more sensitivity and respect due to it being a very personal space for the homeowner. With that in mind, the house cleaner will go about cleaning bedroom spaces in the following manner:

If requested, the beds will be made up neatly.
Dressers and tables will be tidied and organized.
Furniture including the bed frame will be wiped.
Ceiling and wall fixtures are dusted.
Carpets/area rugs are vacuumed.
Mirrors and windows are cleaned.
Flooring will be vacuumed and mopped.

Common Challenges Faced By a Professional House Cleaner

Aside from difficult cleaning tasks that involve removing stubborn grime or stains, there are other aspects of the job that pose a challenge. It is therefore advisable to acquire some form of professional training in order to foresee these challenges, and rise above them. Learn more about these below.

Not Having The Right Equipment

If you do not have your own equipment, or are asked to use the apartment owner’s cleaning tools and products, there is a good chance that they may not have everything needed to provide a satisfactory cleaning result. This is something that should be discussed prior to the service to ensure that the house cleaner is able to work in an efficient manner, and not placed at fault should the right cleaning equipment not be provided.

Encountering Health Hazards

There are quite a few areas of house cleaning that constitute health hazards including exposure to dangerous substances/chemicals, slips and falls, labor intensity (carrying and handling heavy cleaning equipment/machinery), etc. Professional cleaners must be wary of these things, and always be prepared with protective gear when needed.

Cleaning a Cluttered Home

Homeowners can’t expect the cleaner to tidy up a cluttered home unless the service entails the same. They must also understand that it is much more time-consuming and difficult for housekeepers to clean around clutter which, in turn, affects the overall cleanliness of the space. Depending on the agreed upon terms and conditions, if the house cleaner is not informed of the current state of the property, they may refuse to provide the service.

Lack of Guidance/Cleaning Instructions

Some people prefer to have their house cleaned in a particular way and therefore, must provide proper instructions and guidance for the cleaner to follow. It’s often the case wherein the house owner is left dissatisfied with a service simply because they were not clear with their instructions from the get-go.

Language Barrier/Poor Communication Skills

Even if both parties speak the same language, having poor communication skills (on both parts) can cause misunderstandings and unnecessary problems. House cleaners must work to improve how they communicate with clients, ensuring that they are polite and respectful, especially if they represent a cleaning service. If this is not reciprocated by the homeowner, it will be a very challenging and stressful environment to work in.

The Importance of Time Management & Detailed Cleaning

The whole point of hiring a home cleaning service is to have your house cleaned thoroughly, and in a timely manner by professionals. Particularly with cleaning companies that have an impressive average rating of 4/5 stars, you can expect an excellent job on every occasion! Of course, this is where the house cleaner that is assigned to the job must shine.

Following a Meticulous Cleaning Process

Paying close attention to detail is crucial in house cleaning, and every trained or experienced housekeeper knows that. It should also be mentioned that there is a difference between a deep cleaning and regular/daily home cleaning service, however, both types of services demand a meticulous cleaning process in order to achieve the desired cleaning result. Every last detail matters in housekeeping such as the type of product/solution, equipment, and technique used.

On any given day, a professional cleaner is required to uphold a high standard of cleanliness for clients which can only be achieved by a thorough cleaning of the property. This means cleaning crevices like tile grout, and other areas that are out of reach and out of sight.

Time Management Strategies

A professional maid can complete an entire house cleaning service in half the amount of time it takes the average homeowner. In a big way, this is owed to practice and experience, however, there are other factors that aid in efficient, ‘speed cleaning’.

Some of the time management strategies used by cleaning crews include the pre-treatment of areas and surfaces that require the cleaning solution to sit for a while in order to clean effectively. While the product is put to work, the cleaner will move on to other cleaning tasks before coming back and finishing off these specific areas. This saves a lot of time while ensuring a proper, effective clean.

CONCLUSION

The daily routine of a house cleaner is one that comes with its own challenges, yet can be highly rewarding and self-satisfying when it ends in a job done well, and a happy homeowner! It takes a level of professionalism to carry out a thorough, whole-house clean that meets one’s requirements and expectations but this is often guaranteed when you’ve picked one of the best house cleaning services for the job.

For individuals who wish to become professional housekeepers, it is advisable to take a course in cleaning for both the experience and certification. This will help you get employed by house cleaning services or hired independently by clients in Canada.